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Photo by @erikmarthaler Dimension and detail, plus the perfect pair of striped pants, gave Erik Marthaler’s (@erikmarthaler) #WHPblackandwhite submission an edge. The Chicago-based photographer took this image from a unique vantage point on the Sears Tower.

Photo by @kiarang alaei Throw your wings up for this moment of pure childhood joy, captured for #WHPblackandwhite by Kiarang Alaei (@kiarang alaei). Follow along as we feature some of our favorite submissions to last weekend’s hashtag project.

Featured photo by @frederic vasquez We’re embracing the drama of black and white for this Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHPblackandwhite. Try our black-and-white filters in photos and stories, and make adjustments using the contrast tool. Grayscale has a wide range and it can help focus the subject by getting rid of distracting colors, especially if the light isn’t great. Go to where the action is happening. Your photos and videos don’t have to be serious and moody. Find a dog park or outdoor concert to capture playful and dynamic scenes. Look for texture and patterns. Back away from buildings to see the repeating shapes of windows and doors; or get close to flowers and leaves to magnify their lines and silhouettes. PROJECT RULES: Please add the #WHPblackandwhite hashtag only to photos and videos taken over this weekend and only submit your own visuals to the project. If you include music in your video submissions, please only use music to which you own the rights. Any tagged photo or video taken over the weekend is eligible to be featured next week.

Video by @paulnicklen Off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in the Strait of Georgia, billions of herring gather in the waters to spawn. With them arrives a huge influx of marine birds, orcas and the ⭐ of our story: Steller sea lions. Wildlife conservation photographer, cinematographer and co-founder of SeaLegacy (@sea legacy) Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) is taking us on an underwater adventure to get up close and personal with these curious sea creatures. From his work in the Strait of Georgia to help people understand the importance of the Salish Sea and herring season, he knows firsthand just how playful the Steller sea lions can be. (In his words, he’s felt like “a human chew toy.”) Check out our Instagram story to see Paul and these pups in action.

Video by @ramune0123 Hello, world! Our #weeklyfluff is coming to you from Japan: a pair of white Pacific parrotlets named Ramune and Soda (@ramune0123), affectionately referred to as “tiny dinosaurs” by their human. Though the parrotlet is one of the smallest birds in the parrot family, these two have a lot of personality to share, whether they’re learning a new trick (bowling!) or just enjoying a nice head-scratch. Follow @ramune0123 to keep up with this feathered duo.

Video by @paulrabil When he was 12 years old, Paul Rabil’s (@paulrabil) neighbor handed him a lacrosse stick. “I remember playing in my first game and taking my first shot,” says the American lacrosse player, who grew up in Maryland and now plays professionally for New York and Team USA. “I wasn’t any good, and the ball traveled in the opposite direction of where I was aiming. I remember feeling upset, but also invigorated by the challenge to improve.” Now 32, “a year younger than LeBron James,” he notes, Paul’s passion never left. “Hard work is defined by effort and endurance. The latter is the most difficult,” he says. “To be able to stay motivated, put in hours of training, make daily sacrifices and truly be passionate about what you do is rare. If you have it, go all in, and be prepared to commit years of your life to the journey.” Check out our story to join Paul on the field.

Photo by @weekend wanderlust “WHP🦄 inspired me to think outside the box,” says Izzy Berger (@weekend wanderlust ), who spotted this flock of flying birds in the reflection of a puddle. “Unicorns are usually associated with bright colors, but I wanted to maintain my photo style. When I saw this bird formation, I thought it would make a great unicorn horn. The rest was down to a lot of patience and good timing!”

Photo illustration by @letizilla “I cannot help myself from being creative when I’m surrounded by colors,” says graphic designer Leticia Ramos (@letizilla). “I wanted to represent #WHP🦄 as I am — smiling and being happy for having my unicorn balloon.”

Photo by @aravisdolmenna At home in England, Aravis Dolmenna (@aravisdolmenna) turned lunchtime prep into her #WHP🦄 submission. “I like to use the ordinary, everyday items around me to make unexpected pictures,” says Arvis. “This allowed me to really use my imagination.” 🥕 Follow along to see more of our favorites from last weekend’s hashtag project.

Photo by @mmeyers76 A spectacularly pink Arizona sunset is made even better with the addition of Steve, a stuffed unicorn that Mike Meyers (@mmeyers76) bought at the start of a road trip. “I have no idea what compelled me to buy Steve,” he writes in the caption of his #WHP🦄 submission, “but he seems all right with it all, especially if we keep taking him to places like this.”

Photo by @pointerproblems “If you’re lucky enough to be different, don’t ever change. The world needs more unicorns.” —Gordie and Lylle (@pointerproblems) Follow along to see more of our favorites from last weekend’s hashtag project, #WHP🦄 .

Video by @stirandstyle An appetite for entrepreneurship (and noodles) led June Quan to transform a career in entertainment law into @stirandstyle – a personal brand dedicated to sharing her love of eating. Leaving work that she loved “was the toughest decision of my entire life,” but June is enjoying the journey. “I’ve had fun finding my own voice in the food scene and I use my law degree every single day,” she says. In addition to co-owning three restaurant stands at Smorgasburg in LA, June is adding her own flavor to the food blogging scene by enjoying larger-than-life eats on camera to educate her audience about lesser-known eateries that are worth the trip. “Being a restaurant owner too, I definitely support local businesses. I want to spotlight the restaurants that are affordable, and good, and easy, and casual.”

Featured photo by @studiomucci Celebrate the uniqueness and style of unicorns for this Weekend Hashtag Project: #WHP🦄 Capture your real-life unicorns, the individuals that really stand out. With an action-packed #Boomerang or playful portrait of a friend (humans and animals both work), show us their true personality. Look for light and colors that pop. An everyday place can transform into a magical location with the addition of a single light beam spilling into a dark room or an orange boat that jumps out against a blue sea. Focus on the little things. Get close to capture special details of a new hair style or handcrafted origami. Include the written details in your caption, too. PROJECT RULES: Please add the #WHP🦄 hashtag only to photos and videos taken over this weekend and only submit your own visuals to the project. If you include music in your video submissions, please only use music to which you own the rights. Any tagged photo or video taken over the weekend is eligible to be featured next week.

Half-court shots, spin moves and selfie dunks — the Harlem Globetrotters (@harlemglobetrotters) must be in town. 🏀🔥 Today, watch our story to get your fill of trick shots from this world traveling team of hoopsters.

Photo by @christiehemmklok Her toddler’s obsession with firefighters lit a 🔥 under photographer Christie Hemm Klok (@christiehemmklok). “He had 10 books all about firefighters. I think maybe one of them had a very short-haired woman. That was the extent of it,” says Christie. While in art school, she had the idea to document female firefighters, but her local station in Southern California didn’t have any women. This time, she reached out to United Fire Service Women, a nonprofit that advocates for women in the San Francisco Fire Department. “The timing was right,” says Christie — their response was immediate. The organization was looking for a photographer to help celebrate the 30-year anniversary of women in the department. “When women are in male-dominated careers, especially careers like firefighting or something that’s really labor intensive, I don’t think they always get viewed as regular people,” says Christie. “The greatest part about the project is that I got to meet every single kind of person, from every walk of life. And that’s the thing, you don’t have to be supernatural to be a female firefighter. You just have to be a regular woman.” Christie is part of Women Photograph (@womenphotograph), a global catalog of independent women photojournalists on a mission to elevate female voices. We’re celebrating #InternationalWomensDay with photographers from the collective. Tune in to our story to see projects from around the world.

Photo illustration by @rperspective To create his #whplandscape submission, Ramiro Montejano (@rperspective) traveled to a dam near his hometown in central Mexico. “I really love the feeling this photo gives me,” he says. “It takes me back to that day, having a blast exploring and creating cool photos with my friends.” 🌝

Photo by @danielmercadante Using long exposure and a homemade light bar attached to a hockey stick, Daniel Mercadante (@danielmercadante) created this light painting of the “Rainbow Road” along the California coast. 🌈 “I love to imagine that the Rainbow Road runs all over the planet and into the depths of the universe,” says Daniel. “It reminds me that wherever we are, light and happiness guide us if we are willing to see it.” #whplandscape

Photo illustration by @herselfdesigns Bright flowers pop against moody cliffs in artist Heather Raymond’s (@herselfdesigns) #whplandscape submission. “I spent many hours here waiting for a sunset that never came, but I fell in love with the light anyway,” she says. “By layering flowers over the composition, I made the feelings I felt when taking the photo come alive.” 🌻 Follow along to see more of our favorites from last weekend’s hashtag project.